Metatarsal-arch support



J. J. McCARTIN.

METATARSAL ARCH SUPPORT.

APPLICATION,FILED MAYIG. 192:.

1,41 6, 1 O3, Patented May 16, 1922.

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361m .T'. MCGARTIIN, or 'aocxwmn, conmcrrcur.

METATARSAL-ARCH SUPPORT.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN J MoCAR'rIN, citizen of the United States, residing at Rockville, in the county of Tolland and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metatarsal-Arch Supports; and I do declare the following to be'a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved metatarsal arch support which is accurately shaped to effectively conform to, elevate and return the metatarsal bones of the human foot to their natural or normal position in cases where such bones have been displaced for a considerable length of time. One object of the invention is to provide a support of this type which is associated with a full sized insole, whereby when it is placed inside of the shoe, there will be little or no; possibility of the support becoming misplaced as in the case of insoles of smaller sizes and lesser lengths. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide an arch support of this class embodying an integral tongue which is directed inwardly beneath the body portion and is provided with an elongated slot through which a retaining bolt is passed, thus providing a structure wherein the support may be moved cross-wise of the insole or longitudinally thereof to arrange it in the .most advantageous position to relieve pain and restore the desired or particular metatarsal bones.

Another and very important object of the invention is to provide a metatarsal arch support adj ustably connected with an insole, thereby enabling the support to be moved forward of the transverse arch to relieve.

the fiexor brevis digitorum pedis muscles of various strains and pains to which they are subjected. Thus, the arch is given an additional important function.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like I parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an arch support and insole constructed in accordance with this invention. 1

Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views-taken Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 16 1922 Application filed May 16, i

1921. Serial No. 469,992.

substantially on the planes of the lines 2 2 and 3-3 respectively of Fig. l.

' Figure 4' is an inverted perspective view of the improved arch support.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates a flexible full sized insole which, when placed inside of the shoe, will be held against undue and accidental movement, thereby securing proper and effective engagement of the metatarsal arch support 2 with the ball or other parts of the human foot. The support 2 is in the form of a concavo-convex substantially ovate rigid metal plate accurately bulged and shaped to conform to and effectively support the metatarsal bones so that in case the latter have fallen or become misplaced, they will be effectively returned to their normal and relative position. As before indicated, this plate is equipped at its forwardend with an integral tongue 3, which, when in use, is bent inward beneath the body portion of said plate so as to assume the position better shown in Fig. 4:. This tongue is equipped with an elongated slot, 4, preferably of the key-hole type. A short headed bolt 5 is designed to be passed through this slot and through the insole thereby permitting a nut 6 to be threaded on its free end to hold the plate 2 in the various positions to which it has been moved. With this construction, it will be seen that when desired, the plate can be quickly and easily disconnected from the insole by .simply sliding the same forward and positioning the head of the bolt 5 in the enlarged portion of the slot4.

In "use, the insole is placed inside of the shoe and owing to its size, it prevents accidental shifting of the arch support. It will be well to adjust and properly fit the arch supporting plate to the affected portion of the foot prior to inserting the insole in the shoe. As before indicated, the arch supporting plate canbe adjusted cross-wise, that is, swung around the bolt 5 whichthen becomes a pivot, to position the wider end closer to or further from either edge of the insole. Furthermore, the arch-supporting plate can be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the insole to acquire the desired position thereof or to move it sufliciently far in a backward direction to enable it to be come disposed beneath the flexor brevis digitorum pedis muscles to relieve the latter of extreme strain to which they are often subjected. After the plate is disposed in the desired position, the nut 6 is ti htened to hold'it in said position and there will be little or no possibility of it becoming displaced thereafter.

Before concluding, I Wish to make it known that the arch supporting plate is'also adapted to relieve strain of the transverse arch of the foot by placing such plate on a like insole under said arch; or, in cases involving strain of both the metatarsal and,

transverse arches, a pair of such arch supporting plates on the same insole may be employed. 7

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising an insole, a rigidconvex plate shaped to conform to and restore the metatarsal arch, said'plate including an integral tongue eX- tending inwardly beneath its body portion gamma and provided with a slot, a retaining bolt passing through said slot and insole, and a nut on the bolt for holding the plate in Various adjusted positions.

2. A'device of the class described comprising an insole, a rigid concavo-coiivex substantially ovate plate adapted for dis-- my hand.

JOHN J. MQCARTIN. 

